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Back in July 2006, I bought my first digital SLR camera. The very next day, I brought it with me to Siren Festival in Coney Island. Although the shots from that concert didn't turn out too hot - too far away, too much of a novice with the camera - I wasn't deterred from future attempts at concert shooting. Ultimately, I decided to start a musicblog, titled The Wong Way, featuring photos I took from the concerts I went to. It ran regularly from July 2006 to December 2006 and while I'd like to start it back up some day, I prefer to just enjoy concerts from the sidelines. But who knows what the future will bring, right?

Favorite Albums of 2005, 10-1

Posted on Nov 26, 2006 • (0)

My 25 favorite albums of 2005, presented in two parts. This, part 2, contains albums 10-1.

As stated before in the songs list – these are my favorite albums from 2005. While this list may share elements with other top lists out there, in no way am I declaring these to be the best albums since taste is subjective and my favorite albums can easily be someone else’s most-hated albums. After a lot of thinking and searching through iTunes, I’ve come up with a list of 25 albums that I’m happy to say are my favorite albums of the year.

		10. Bloc Party: Silent Alarm A stellar blend of rock, pop, dance, and punk – a fine debut from the British band.

		9. Sleater-Kinney: The Woods A change in producer leads to the Portland princesses’ most rocking-est album.

		8. Imogen Heap: Speak For Yourself On a whole, the album is uneven but it earns this lofty spot on the strength of Hide and Seek alone.

		7. Broken Social Scene: Broken Social Scene Yes, it’s not as good as You Forgot It in People. Yes, it suffers from a lack of cohesion. Still, the album’s highs seriously outweighs its lows.

		6. M.I.A.: Arular The Sri Lankan rapper puts out a debut album that seamlessly meshes dancehall, hip hop, and reggae.

		5. Franz Ferdinand: You Could Have It So Much Better More good stuff from the Scottish band – no sophomore slump for these guys.

		4. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah This album is sheer fun.

		3. Stars: Set Yourself On Fire Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan make some beautiful music together.

		2. The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema Carl Newman’s superband continue put out their most cohesive and, arguably, their best album.

		1. Sufjan Stevens: Illinoise Is there any top list where this album isn’t number one? This is some of the best writing I’ve heard in an album in a very long time – emphasis on album as Stevens doesn’t take his foot off the gas for any track.